Category: Movies

Words by Ry Lickliter

The other night, while drinking pints of beer with my flatmates, something strange happened. It was one of those brief moments where you feel like you, for just a brief moment, you might being staring into the future. In this tiny little sliver of time you feel like the first person to see an automobile or watched Neil Armstrong set man’s first steps on the surface of the moon or the first time someone saw a non-rotary phone. It’s a strange moment where you don’t completely comprehend what it is you are seeing but you are awestruck none the less and you know that one of two things will happen. Either you are witnessing of the changing of an age that might not start tomorrow… It might not start in your life time… But you know, deep down in your soul of souls, that the world has evolved.

Or you are completely wrong.

It’s one of the two. There is a 50/50 chance and I am leaning towards the prior when it comes to my feelings on Will Ferrell’s & HBO’s presentation You’re Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush. The shear energy that it must take to not only preform on Broadway for nearly 2 hours is nothing compared to the strain of the facial muscles that Ferrell endured squishing his face into that little fist of smirks and puzzlement that is Bush’s mug. It was obvious after watching You’re Welcome America that Ferrell’s study of Bush’s mannerisms and subtle characteristics stretched well beyond the birth of this character during his Saturday Night Live days.

Strutting across the stage in pure Texan fashion, Ferrell’s George Walker Bush seemed to come almost like second nature. If it weren’t for Ferrell’s 6’3” stature and grasp of basic spoken English, one could have easily been mistaken at first glance. Sprinkled with both hysterical laughter and a few of the single most awkward silences I have ever witnessed. It was in these small, strange pauses that I had what I believe is my glimpse of the future. The future of comedy.

Falling back on a few old chestnuts here & there and breaking character for a few moments just to jump into the small bouts of rage that are sure to get a chuckle every time, Ferrell pushed not only the limits of political mockery but the understanding of his viewing audience. There are quite literally moments that are painfully off putting and strange. There are sections where you can physically feel the audience’s confusion and feel for them in limbo as they sit not knowing if they should actually laugh or not.

There is a moment, a looooooong moment, where you can almost see the tension. The monolog being delivered is quite possibly the single most honest and realistic speeches I have ever had the privilege of witnessing. So, in fact, that it was nearly unbearable. The pauses Ferrell would take while gazing over the audience seemed to last lifetimes… It won’t be until James Lipton interviews Ferrell in the distant future that we will learn that the reactions received where exactly what he intended to get. However, this interview may never happen as Ferrell will probably show up dressed as James Lipton and cause a riff in the fabric of time & space resulting in the end of all life on Earth. (This too will be due to Ferrell’s advancement.)

Granted, one could easily just say, ‘You are just over analyzing this bit of stand up and giving Ferrell way too much credit.’ You could say that. It’s a free country. But you would be wrong. Ferrell’s place as a modern comedic genius is a position that very few people will debate. (Besides, if Val Kilmer says it, it must be true.) What I believe what one might mistake (and many will) to be a failure to deliver the funny will actually be some comedic avenue that is just advanced enough to be missed by the average audience.

Just like the creation of Devo or Crystal Clear Pepsi, You’re Welcome America will, more likely than not, be judged in a manner that won’t give it it’s proper dues. The reason for this being that we, you and I, are not ready for it yet. Perhaps our kids will be. Perhaps their children. Perhaps I’m wrong.

It might just suck.

You be the judge.